In a sign of that enduring gap, the elderly speaker called for “Mr Tanwarin” to come forward in a vote late Wednesday that saw former junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha elected as premier with the help of a bank of 250 appointed senators.

Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, a lawmaker for the progressive anti-junta Future Forward Party (FFP), is one of four transgender MPs in the house — pioneers in a society where discrimination in education, employment and at home persists.

“I am not here for decoration,” she told AFP. “I want to write a new political history for Thailand.”

    Thailand’s transgender community enjoys a high profile, but still faces major hurdles in the conservative Buddhist-majority kingdom.

Transgender people in Thailand appear in commercials, movies, on the front pages of fashion magazines and even have their own beauty contest, Miss Tiffany, watched annually by more than ten million viewers.

But the media leans heavily on caricatures of the community as catty, bawdy figures — while transgender people are often passed over for jobs as teachers and civil servants and confined to entertainment gigs and sex work.

“Thai people accept the community but don’t see them as equal or entitled to equal rights,” Tanwarin said.

– ‘Offending good morals’ –

Tanwarin’s political ambitions came after a successful career as a film director.

One of her movies, “Insects in the Backyard”, was released in 2010 and shown abroad.

But it was censored by Thai courts for “offending good morals”.

It was only after a five-year legal battle and the removal of a three-second nudity scene that the feature film was broadcast in the kingdom.

But Tanwarin — who is now directing a play called “Trans, I Am” — said an artistic career was not enough to push for changes to the legal framework governing life for the LGBT community.

“We had to go into politics,” Tanwarin says.

Tanwarin’s first push in parliament is to change the legal definition of a married couple to “person to person” instead of “man to woman”, which could lead to Thailand becoming the second place in Asia after Taiwan to allow gay marriage.

A same sex marriage bill has been floated in Thailand but it has drifted with the political turmoil and it does not give same sex couples rights to have children or adopt.

Political action is needed as the laissez-faire attitude of Thailand towards its LGBT community hides a more nuanced reality, rights groups say.

Transgender people “are regularly discriminated against in their jobs, forcing many of them into low-paid jobs,” says Kyle Knight, LGBT specialist for Human Rights Watch.

Many face rejection by their families and end up in the sex industry where they are exploited.

And the term “katoey” (a Thai word covering transgender) is still thrown around contemptuously in Thai society.

Pauline Ngarmpring, who campaigned vigorously but failed to win a seat in the March election, called political inclusion a “first step” for the LGBT community and human rights in general.

The father-of-two who used to be called Pinit and made a name in the football world said there had been flickers of progress in recent years.

“Transgender people are now working as doctors, businessmen or teachers, but they are still too few.”

Tanwarin’s public presence alone has already sparked important debate and sometimes “virulent” comments on social media.

She relishes the challenge.

“I’m not afraid,” she said. I’m here to raise awareness for those who don’t understand.”

The MPs making the claim included Anawin Ratanasataporn, Taophipob Limchitrakorn, Thitinan Saengnark, Thongdang Benjapak and Theerachai Phanthamat.

Pannika said there was no way the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat Party would be able to form a stable government with just 150 seats in the lower house, which is why it was offering huge sums to many parties in exchange for votes.

Anawin, a Pathum Thani MP, said he had been approached twice. Bangkok MP Taopiphob disclosed that he had been offered up to Bt120 million for his vote, but that he had responded by saying democracy could not be bought.

Khon Kaen MP Thitinan had been offered up to Bt50 million plus a monthly payment, while Samut Sakhon MP Thongdang said he had been offered up to Bt75 million, but had refused.

Pannika confirmed that Future Forward MPs had been offered anything between Bt5 million and Bt120 million, and some were even threatened if they refused to vote for Prayut. She said there were many brokers in Parliament whose intention was to keep the junta in power, but refused to reveal any names so as to not endanger the MPs.

“An MP’s duty is to protect the people’s interest and form a government that can solve persistent problems. Their job is not to join other MPs in exchange for Bt400 million or Bt500 million. We at Future Forward will stick together as we share the same ideology. We have no betrayers in our party,” Pannika said.

Prayut returned as PM for a second term after a five-year term since the 2014 coup, beating his opponent Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit with 500 to 244 votes. Three MPs abstained from voting and one was on a sick leave.

Thanathorn did not vote because he has been suspended from his MP duties, and neither did former Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who gave up his party-list MP seat on Wednesday morning.

His victory came due to support from nearly 20 political parties and the 250-member Senate.

The general is Thailand’s 29th prime minister.

Junta chief earlier got a taste of parliamentary politics yesterday when he was grilled during a marathon debate in Parliament before a vote to install him as the new prime minister.

The vote to choose between coup leader General Prayut and anti-junta politician Thanathorn Juangroon-gruangkit for the top government post was delayed until 9pm after a day of heated and intense debates.

Neither of the two contenders were present in Parliament. While Prayut kept himself confined to his office in Government House in the morning and later at home in the afternoon, Thanathorn expressed his views before the media from outside the meeting room.

The future PM should admit that the country faces a lot of tough problems and make the changes to move the country forward, said Thanathorn, who is the leader of the Future Forward Party.

“I was born when Thailand was at the same stage of development as South Korea, but now Vietnam, which joined the economic race much later, looks set to leap ahead of Thailand,” Thanathorn said, adding “I’m ready to lead Thailand into the future.”

Earlier, lower house speaker Chuan Leekpai had promised he would allow the MPs and senators to debate extensively on any related issues, including on whether the two candidates had the qualifications to be the prime minister.

Those opposed to Prayut returning as premier focused on his leadership of the coup in 2014 and his status as a state authority. They argued that his involvement in a coup showed his lack of faith in democracy and the constitutional monarchy while his continuation as a state authority was against the law that disqualifies state officials from running for PM.

Pheu Thai Party frontbencher in Parliament, Cholanan Srikaeo, began the session by arguing that Prayut had staged a coup, which was strongly against the Constitution and a deviation from democracy. He should also be disqualified because he was a state official, Cholanan said.

The politician warned that Prayut would lead the country into crisis and failure because of his bureaucracy-centred style of administration.

The seven parties in the anti-junta bloc could not approve Prayut to be the premier, Cholanan said.

Other politicians in the bloc argued similarly, reiterating Prayut was not qualified because he was obviously a state official whose pay cheque came from the taxpayers though the Ombudsman had already cleared Prayut.

However, Prayut’s backers – mostly junta-appointed senators and Phalang Pracharat MPs – argued that the general had already been checked by independent agencies and cleared to be the PM candidate.

Others also defended Prayut’s role as coup leader, arguing that the circumstances in 2014 had made it necessary for the Army to intervene. Had Prayut not staged a coup, the political turmoil would not have ended, they stressed.

The two blocs also clashed several times when debating the 2014 coup. At one point, senator Seri Suwanpanont admitted that he would rather support a democratic dictatorship rather than a fake democracy.

Meanwhile, Thanathorn, the other PM candidate, was hardly discussed. Those opposed to his bid only expressed concern that he could not take the job because of his current suspension from the MP duty following the Constitutional Court order in a case related to his alleged shareholding in a media company.

Thanathorn, however, was also present at the election venue, ready to give a speech on his vision for the country.

The house, however, did not allow that as Phalang Pracharat MPs argued that there was no such provision in the regulations.

Abhisit, who is No 1 party-list MP of the country’s oldest party, announced his decision to quit at TOT on Chaeng Wattana Road, hours before Parliament was scheduled to convene at the temporary site to vote for the next premier yesterday.

The Democrats on Tuesday resolved to join the pro-junta bloc led by Phalang Pracharat Party in forming a coalition government, and to choose Prayut as the next premier.

“As an MP, I cannot walk into the chamber and vote against my party’s resolution. Also I cannot vote to support Prayut, because that will break the promise I made to the people [during the election campaign], which is more important than the party’s resolution,” Abhisit said at a press conference.

After his party decided to back a junta-led coalition, Abhisit said he wanted to apologise to his supporters who had voted for the Democrats believing the party would maintain its stance and ideology.

“I’m sorry I can’t go against my party’s resolution. So, the only choice I have in order to keep my dignity as a former party leader and to keep the promise I made to the people, is to give up my post as MP,” he said.

Ahead of the March 24 election, Abhisit as Democrat leader had appealed for support from voters by declaring that his party would not support Prayut’s return to power and would not ally with any corrupt politicians.

The former premier gave up his party leadership after the Democrats came in third with 3.9 million votes, managing to only win 53 seats. In comparison, the party had won some 11.4 million popular votes in the 2011 polls.

Abhisit said he would stick to his earlier stance to prove that power belongs to the people and that the country needs a democracy that is based on integrity.

“The situation today is no different from the reasons for which I fought against the Thaksin [Shinawatra] regime, as it behaved in much the same way [as the current regime] back in 2005. The Thaksin regime also abused power and interfered with independent agencies as well as the media,” he added.

The former party leader has not clarified if he will be jumping ship like the so-called “New Dem” faction, which has quit the party.

The new generation had earlier suggested that the party play the role of a “constructive” opposition in line with its ideology, rather than joining a junta-led coalition government.

Parit Wacharasindhu, leader of the New Dem group, decided to bring his political career as a Democrat to an end yesterday by quitting the party.

“Quitting the party is one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made. I have left the party not because I find the members’ thoughts right or wrong, but because we think differently about what is best for the country and the people,” Parit, who is Abhisit’s nephew, posted on Facebook.

He also apologised to the 3.9 million supporters who voted for the Democrats for failing to end dictatorship as promised by him while campaigning for votes. “I don’t have anything to say other than ‘sorry’. I apologise that what you [voters] got is not what you chose,” he said.

Several other New Dem members also announced on Facebook their decision to quit.

Tadchon Klinchamni said that as a junior member, he cannot change what the party has resolved, so he has decided to keep his ideology to himself and walk away from the “fake” Democrat Party.

Nattika Loweera also said the party’s resolution goes against her personal ideology, so she has decided to end her political career with the party, adding that now there will be unity among the Democrats.

Thanat Thanakitamnuay, the scion of a prominent businessman, and Parit Ratanakul Serirengrit also left the party.

His victory came due to support from nearly 20 political parties and the 250-member Senate. Thanathorn did not vote because he has been suspended from his MP duties, and neither did former Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who gave up his party-list MP seat on Wednesday morning. The general is Thailand’s 29th prime minister.

Pannika Wanich, a new MP from the newly formed Future Forward Party has been criticised for her clothing choice by Dr Porntip Rojanasunan, a female senator who is the country’s top pathologist.

Porntip, former head of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, criticised Pannika for dressing “improperly” during the mourning period for late former prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda, who died late last month.

The government asked public figures to wear mourning clothing until June 17.

MPs and senators attending the meeting to select the next prime minister wore black, while Pannika wore black and a white blazer.

In response, Pannika told reporters that she was surprised by the comments. “We met at a canteen and she said nothing. Maybe it is a misunderstanding,” she said.

She insisted that her choice of clothing was appropriate.

The new MP added that the choice of the next premier was more important than clothing choices.

One comment under Porntip’s post said: “How come the doctor dare criticise Pannika for wearing inappropriate dress while the doctor herself had violet hair at the parliamentary meeting?”

Abhisit, who is the party’s No. 1 party-list MP, announced his resignation at TOT on Chaeng Wattana Road just hours before the joint Parliament was scheduled to vote to elect the next PM at 11am on Wednesday.

The Democrats yesterday resolved to join the pro-junta bloc led by Phalang Pracharat Party in forming a coalition government, and to vote for Prayut as the next premier.

“As an MP I cannot walk into the meeting room and vote against my party’s resolution. In the meantime, I cannot vote to support Prayut because it will break the promise I gave to the people,” Abhisit said during his press conference.

Before the March 24 election, Abhisit, then the Democrat leader, had appealed for support from voters by declaring his party would not support Prayut’s return to power as prime minister, nor would it ally with any corrupt politicians.

The former PM resigned from the party leadership after the Democrats won only 53 House seats in the election.

He said he would continue to cling to his earlier stance to prove that the power belongs to the people and the country needs a democracy based on integrity.

He also apologised to his supporters who had voted Democrat, saying he was sorry to have disappointed them.

However, Abhisit has not made it clear whether he would quit the party.

Prayut, who seized power in 2014, is all but assured of completing his transformation from junta head to civilian leader with the support of 250 hand-picked senators.

But he faces competition from Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party, which scooped up millions of votes in a March poll mainly from the kingdom’s millennials.

In an unexpected move late Tuesday, Thanthorn was announced as the sole prime ministerial candidate of the anti-junta coalition, despite being enmeshed in legal woes that could see him banned from politics and jailed.

Thailand remains bitterly divided after 13 years defined by coups, violent street protests and short-lived civilian governments.

At root is a rivalry between an arch-royalist conservative establishment — buttressed by the courts and the army — and pro-democracy parties supported by many of the lower and middle class.

Parliament is deciding on a premier more than two months after the first election since the last coup, a poll marred by allegations of inaccurate counting and vote-buying.

Prayut’s allies say he is a stabilising figure who can steer Thailand away from its perennial political crises.

“Prayut has the qualities, has the capability, the leadership to do the job,” Uttama Savanayana, the leader of junta proxy party Palang Pracharat, told AFP.

But his critics say the famously gruff ex-army chief represents a narrow elite and lacks the vision or temperament to govern as a civilian leader.

– Unexpected third force –

The election was cast as a choice between junta-backed rule and parties aligned with former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck, whose administration was toppled in 2014.

But an unexpected third force emerged led by billionaire auto-parts scion Thanathorn.

His Future Forward won more than six million votes and 81 seats to become Thailand’s third largest party.

The social media savvy 40-year-old is now heading a coalition with the Shinawatra’s main party — Pheu Thai — and five others.

Analysts say Thanathorn represents the greatest challenge to the junta and its establishment allies, with his articulate calls to bridge the kingdom’s chasmic social inequality and end the military’s influence over politics.

But Thanathorn is weighed down by legal problems.

Those led to his suspension from parliament and a dramatic walk-out from its early sessions.

He said Tuesday that the suspension had nothing to do with qualifying as a candidate for prime minister, and he called on swing parties to back him in the vote.

“The most important thing is to return Thailand to democracy,” he told reporters. “And to stop Prayut to come back as prime minister.”

Assuming the Thai senate votes with the junta, Thanathorn would need a gargantuan 376 votes from the lower house to emerge as premier.

Prayut, who may not attend the vote, only needs 126.

He received a further boost on the eve of the vote with Thailand’s oldest party — the Democrats — throwing their lot in with him.

That should smooth his path to office, but analysts say troubles lie ahead for a military man unused to debate and consensus-building.

“Politicians will try to make scenes… to expose Prayut,” said Titipol Phakdeewanich, a political scientist as Ubon Ratchathani University.

JUNTA CHIEF General Prayut Chan-o-cha and anti-junta politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit will lock horns for the top government post today.

The anti-junta bloc made its final decision and confirmed yesterday that Thanathorn was |eligible to be their prime minister candidate – despite the charter court suspending him from MP duties – after weeks of deliberations over four possible candidates.

Three of the possible candidates – Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, Chadchart Sittipunt and Chaikasem Nitisiri – were from the core coalition leader Pheu Thai Party while Thanathorn is the leader of Future Forward Party.

Prayut, however, is expected to sail through easily with the pro-junta bloc having secured a majority 254 MPs, including those from key swing parties Democrat and Bhumjaithai.

Democrat Party yesterday decided at the last minute to join the Phalang Pracharat-led coalition.

At an intra-party vote, 61 supported joining the coalition while 16 voted against it. Two members abstained from voting and one ballot was voided.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai, which has the most number of MPs in the anti-junta bloc |following the March 24 general election, had earlier given way to the bloc’s second-biggest player in terms of number of MPs, in an attempt to woo votes from the Democrat Party in the PM contest.

A number of Democrat MPs had been reluctant to vote for Prayut because of his status as a coup leader. Prayut led the coup which toppled an elected government in 2014.

It is widely believed that MPs from outside the bloc will not support a Pheu Thai PM nominee.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said at a press conference yesterday that the party was trying to keep its promise that it would not hanker for any political position and would dedicate its post-election efforts to rooting the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) out of politics.

The decision to field Thanathorn against Prayut today |encountered some opposition within Pheu Thai.

Northeastern MPs of the party believe that Pheu Thai should support its own candidate, especially the party’s de facto leader Khunying Sudarat.

They argued that Sudarat was the reason why Pheu Thai had won the most number of MPs in the March election. She had been highlighted as the party’s face in the election campaign and the MPs did not know how to explain it to the voters if Sudarat did not represent the party in the PM contest, they argued.

Defeat ‘imminent’ for anti-junta bloc

The bloc leader, however, also admitted to possible defeat in both government formation and the PM contest.

Phumtham said the current state of affairs stemmed from flawed laws and regulations that would create an unstable |government.

Though the pro-junta camp could count on Senate support to secure the PM post, proceedings in Parliament would still be paralysed.

Such an outcome reflected the ambition of the powers that be to retain political power through the constitutional mechanism, the veteran politician said. There was no national interest in it, he added.

Pheu Thai senior figure Chusak Sirinin also admitted that whoever was fielded by the anti-junta bloc for today’s contest would not be successful. Now the camp was focused on keeping the 246 MPs united as a pro-democracy front, he said.

Chusak also believed that the meeting today could drag on with extensive debates over the Senate’s role in the election and |qualifications of the candidates.

It was also possible that no conclusion would be reached, he said.

Amid calls that PM candidates should outline their vision for the country before the vote, Thanathorn would stand by at the meeting venue in case he had to share his vision even though he has been suspended as an MP.

Prayut, meanwhile, will stay away, saying he has said enough in the past five years.

This is despite Thanathorn’s current suspension from MP duties pending the outcome of a Constitutional Court case against him.

The Pheu Thai Party, leader of the bloc with the most MPs following the March 24 general election, gave way to the bloc’s second-biggest player in terms of number of MPs, reportedly in a bid to gain a possible swing vote from the Democrat Party in the PM contest.

If the nominee were from Pheu Thai, it is unlikely that MPs from outside the bloc would support the candidate.

Moreover, Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai on Tuesday said the party’s nominee, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, had already announced she would not take any position in a new government – and she would keep her word.

Aside from Pheu Thai’s candidate and Thanathorn, Sereepisuth Temeeyaves is a strong figure within the bloc.

However, because his affiliation party Seri Ruam Thai had not won 25 MPs, as required by the Constitution to field a PM nominee, the anti-junta politician is not eligible to contest for the top government post.

Although Thanathorn is currently suspended from carrying out any MP duties due to the ongoing case against him for holding shares in a media company at the time of his registration as an MP candidate ahead of the March poll, the seven parties from the anti-junta bloc view him as qualified to be their PM candidate.